Judge steps in, helps pair restrain violent inmate

A county judge who hears domestic violence cases stepped in to help a pair of deputies restrain a violent inmate Tuesday, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.

Circuit Judge Geoffrey Cohen placed his foot on the shoulder of David Jones, 22, of Hollywood, after Jones intentionally banged his head twice against a concrete wall then threw himself on the floor, a deputy's report said.

Cohen declined to comment.

Jones, who had knocked a telephone from its receiver in the Broward County Courthouse's holding area, collapsed when a court deputy tried to restrain him, the report said.

Jones was eventually shoved into a cell, then transported to Broward General Medical Center.

Jones began to act erratically as soon as he stepped into the courthouse around 9 a.m. and saw his ex-girlfriend there, the report said. Jones cursed at a deputy when told to calm down and would not answer questions, focusing instead on his ex-girlfriend.

Jones was in Cohen's courtroom for a domestic violence hearing. County records show he was being held in the North Broward jail on several charges, including battery and domestic assault.

Cohen ordered deputies to shackle Jones' legs when he became agitated. He was taken to a holding area where he waited 30 minutes for his hearing.

After a brief appearance in the courtroom, Jones was taken back to a holding area within the courthouse around 10 a.m. That's where he began to lash out, the report said.

Court Deputy Sharon Pyle tried to restrain Jones by placing him in a bear hug, but the man collapsed on the floor and said "that he was bipolar and not to hold him down," the report said.

It took another court deputy and the judge to finally restrain him. There were no injuries, the report said.

A Broward Sheriff's deputy talked with Jones when he calmed down. He told her that he's bipolar but doesn't take medicine.

Information on whether Jones remained in the hospital or was taken back to jail was not available.